Minnesota United has parted ways with long-time head coach Adrian Heath and technical director Mark Watson, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the layoffs publicly. Minnesota United did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Heath is the only head coach Minnesota United has had since the club’s first MLS season in 2017, a span of nearly seven seasons. Watson was an assistant on Heath’s founding team in 2017 before being promoted to technical director in 2019.
Heath, who finished with a record of 81-91-51 in Minnesota, was the fourth-longest-serving head coach in MLS. He led Minnesota to the playoffs each of the last four years.
Minnesota lost 5-1 to LAFC on Wednesday, has two games left in the regular season and is three points below the playoff line in the Western Conference. The Loons are mathematically still alive for the postseason.
Prior to his time with Minnesota, Heath spent five and a half years with Orlando City, including the first season and a half of the club’s MLS tenure. He then took over the position in Minnesota after his dismissal. Watson was also an assistant on Heath’s staff in Orlando.
During his playing days, Heath was a fixture at Everton, where he won two league titles in the 1980s. He also played for Stoke City, Espanyol, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Burnley.
Watson was the head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes from 2013 to 2014. During his playing days, he played 78 games for the Canadian national team.
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